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Image generators like Midjourney can be great tools for creating AI images and visual-based tasks. However, like any tool, they have pros and cons. Below, we’ll highlight the top contenders, other useful AI art tools, and emerging platforms.
DALL-E 3
OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 is one of the best image generators out there. It is incorporated into ChatGPT‘s paid plans, such as Plus for $20. DALL-E is powerful, intuitive, and widely available. All you need to do is ask ChatGPT to create them, and it should render interesting results.
DALL-E’s unmatched ability to understand and incorporate prompt information is its greatest strength.
Midjourney can be particularly bad at ignoring prompt information, but DALL-E does a significantly better job with extra information.
For example, if you include three visual elements, Midjourney might only pay attention to two of them or just focus on one entirely. DALL-E might also ignore information, but it tends to be much better at incorporating details.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best at including important information
- High-quality images
- Conversational editing for easy interaction
- Creates Fast-loading WebP images, great for page speed and SEO
- Integrated with ChatGPT, good for value bundling
Cons
- Requires a paid subscription
- Lacks image editing tools
- Can be “lazy” and produce weak options
- Has some noticeable limitations
DALL-E vs. Midjourney
- DALL-E is better at incorporating information.
- Midjourney offers greater variation and control over image dimensions and details.
Adobe Firefly
Another great Midjourney alternative is Adobe Firefly. This is available as a standalone web app (linked), and Firefly technology also powers image-generation tools in Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps. So, if you use software like Photoshop, you can use Firefly to generate images and objects in the application.
You can use the Firefly web app just like you might Midjourney, but the controls are…. well, they exist! You can use these controls to help you align the images with expectations. It is substantially easier than chatting on a Discord server!
Adobe has also taken a careful, responsible approach to AI and image generation, ensuring that any data used to train its models is ethically sourced and used fairly. If interested, you can browse Adobe’s Firefly FAQ page to learn more.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Intuitive controls
- Ethical model sourcing
- Incorporated in popular creative apps
- Can be used with Adobe Illustrator for AI vector results
- Best for design productivity
Cons
- Not as strong at following prompts
- Full experience requires a Creative Cloud subscription
- Midjourney and DALL-E tend to outperform
Firefly vs. Midjourney
- Firefly is best for design tasks and Adobe Creative Cloud software users.
- Midjourney generally produces better results, but is way less intuitive.
Stable Diffusion
If you’re looking for a more versatile alternative to Midjourney, Stable Diffusion is likely your best choice. While it’s definitely trickier to set up, Stable Diffusion is super powerful and has few limitations on what prompts it will honor. Of course, this comes with larger benefits and drawbacks.
Stable Diffusion is open-source, meaning anyone can contribute to and use it. However, the models are also built on unauthorized training data. Though that’s pretty standard, it comes with developing legal issues and ethical considerations.
Still, Stability AI’s image generation tools are powerful and highly customizable, making them an excellent choice for the technically inclined.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open-source and free
- Customizable, can use various interfaces
- High-quality results
Cons
- Requires a bit of technical know-how
- Quality varies with computer setup
- Lack of limitations creates increased caution
Stable Diffusion vs. Midjourney
- Stable Diffusion is customizable, offering additional creative freedom.
- Midjourney is easier to set up and learn.
Microsoft Designer
Microsoft Designer is a simple text-to-image generator powered by DALL-E 3. It’s great for those looking to test AI image creation without paying for a tool. It also features basic controls to address everyday needs, such as the image aspect ratio.
Ideogram
Ideogram is a newer image generator that requires an associated account. Once you have one, you can use it for free. Ideogram generates high-quality results and is excellent with text, even better than DALL-E.
However, the Ideogram is very lenient when it comes to generating material related to copyrighted work. For example, you can tell it to make you the Disney logo, and it will pretty much do it.
Use caution and don’t assume the results are commercially viable.
Google Gemini
Google Gemini operates similarly to ChatGPT and DALL-E. To create images, you’ll need to sign in with a Google account and request images in the chat.
Like ChatGPT, the tool offers little in the way of an interface for creating images. To get the best results, try repeating and refining your queries until you are satisfied with a workable result.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for an alternative to Midjourney, the first tool you should try for image generation is ChatGPT. Depending on your needs and willingness to learn new software, options like Firefly and Stable Diffusion can be excellent alternatives.
